Arisa didn't expect to be this shocked at her sister's appearance. Although they hadn't seen each other for four year after she killed her, she had already anticipated this moment, but this was too sudden. It was like she appeared out of the blue.
"You're definitely new here," Ravenna scoffed with an air of impudence and a disgusted expression on her face as she shut the door to face her squarely with her hands folded. "How dare you look at me like I'm of your status? Or do you not know who I am?"
The maid behind her gave Arisa a knowing look just before the woman cleared her throat, a permed smile on her face as she solemnly lowered her head, her smile growing wider through bemusement.
Of course, never having imagined four years ago that things would go this way, but look at her now... in an apron and hair net, bowing before her younger step sister who stood over her dressed in the most expensive designer wear, a repulsive expression on her face.
As Arisa raised her head, she noticed her sharp eyes run over her outfit disapprovingly before she sneered, "You must be the new cook Olivia mentioned. How come you're not in uniform?"
Arisa noticed how she blantly missed Ruby standing beside her, because she was confident that even Ruby's eyes were capable of giving her away even without her uttering a word. It was either Ravenna was deliberately ignoring her from pure disinterest or was just too blind.
"Haven't been issued one, Luna."
Ravenna's brows squinted as she took in Arisa's meek appearance, feeling something off about her, her aura, her presence, the boldness she had used to stare into hers earlier... Those eyes had burned with an intent of something dangerous...
However, she immediately dismissed such thoughts from her head, having come back from a meeting with her mate and was too tired and famished to care. She took in the woman's ethereal beauty despite her state and took It upon herself to dislike her at once as she naturally saw an extremly beautiful woman as a threat.
It was petty, but that was how Ravenna was.
Arisa knew Ravenna all too well to recognize that look of self defense, hate and sense of insecurity and smirked cunningly in her heart knowingly.
"So you do know how I am, and yet you chose to challenge me like I'm a commoner such as you are?" Ravenna flashed her a hateful look.
"I was just stunned at your beauty, Luna. The rumors are actually true that you're really the fairest and most beautiful of them all," Arisa bowed again. "I couldn't resist taking it upon myself to admire the work of the Moon goddess."
Ravenna frowned, but hearing her words singing praises of her beauty, she no longer wanted to punish her as she initially planned to. She just scanned the kitchen, noting she had yet to prepare a meal, before her eyes landed on Ruby.
For some seconds, her eyes squinted again, this time in deep thought as she stared into those eyes, large and blue, staring right at hers without blinking or flinching.
Now why did those eyes look a lot familiar to...
She looked up at Arisa with suspicion ridden all over her face, but Arisa, noting she had seen Ruby, stood still, not meeting Ravenna's eyes, all the while, keeping a straight face void of any expression.
Why did her sister look at her like that... like she could recognize Ruby from someone. Could she have remembered the face of the man she had actually connived with into sleeping with her?
However, Ravenna said something else, contrary to what she expected.
"My mate and I had just returned from a meeting and we're very famished. We expect dinner to be ready the moment we freshen up and come downstairs. I'm not the type that dwell on petty excuses. You came here for this job... you weren't forced here, so do your job well."
I just got here like few hours ago... but sure, I'll see what I can whip up in ten minutes. Maybe I'll just bring you some cornflakes and a jug of milk.
"Yes, Luna."
"And the fridge is almost empty of beverages and snacks. You'll be in charge of shopping for them first thing tomorrow morning after breakfast, including food items. I don't want to come into the refrigerator and not find It stocked or else, the next time this happens, you'll be using your pay to stock up the fridge for a full month."
With that, she left the kitchen, but not without taking a tentative glance at Ruby.
The moment she left, Arisa felt a tug on her jeans and looked down to see Ruby, a hand cupped over her mouth as she whispered.
"I don't like her."
Arisa chuckled softly, her eyes moving to the door where the Luna had just exited before she copied Ruby, curling her hand over the side of her mouth and whispering. "Me too."
And mother and daughter erupted in giggles.
Due to time, Arisa settled for a pasta dish and fruit salad. While she prepared the pasta sauce for the cooked pasta, Ruby was seated on the stool, helping her with the fruit salad by picking the berries amongst the large bowl of It. She seemed to enjoy it as she could sneak one or two into her mouth whenever she deemed it necessary to reward her self every five seconds.
When she was done, Arisa was already done cooking and was touching up the food by grating cheese into the dish. This time, Ruby began washing the berries and other fruits that Arisa had picked out and with her help, Arisa cut them into pieces and put some gloves on for Ruby before Ruby began mixing the fruits with her hands.
"Am I doing It right Mommy?" Ruby looked up at her for approval while turning the fruits with pride. Although the quantity of mixed fruits that fell into the sink was almost more than what was left in the bowl, she gave her a thumbs up and smiled to which Ruby beamed to.
Soon, they were done and the maids had already set the table for them as Arisa arrived in the dinning room, pushing a catering trolley with the food tray on the respective descending racks and Ruby seated on the side, swinging her leg enthusiastically.
"Now, we're about to meet the Alpha and Luna, and they're not people you should get angry. Behave Ruby." Arisa warned just before she reached out and pushed the one hinged door leading to the large dinning room.
Although, he didn't notice her because he had his head buried in his phone, a frown etched on his face, Arisa's heart skipped a beat a few number of times on seeing him.
Stephan. He had grown taller, huger, his once developing features now more refined and mature. His dark hair was neatly styled, framing a face adorned with a few lines that spoke of experiences and responsibilities tied down to ruling a pack. As they entered and he looked up, their eyes locked before he turned ack to his phone, barely regarding her.
Though, only for a moment, she had gotten a glimpse of his teal eyes... those eyes that had held hers captive when they had first met, a beautiful, perfect sync of blue and green. His presence exuded calmness, but she knew beneath all that facade and a face that still made her nostalgic remembering the times they had shared was a man who fired three bullets into her without hesitation and ruined her life.
Seeing them both sitting together now, sinister thoughts flooded her mind... things she would do to them when she had gotten her chance. They would regret all they had done, they would plead for death, but unlike in her situation, she would not give it to them easily. She would torture them beyond comparison till they themselves wanted to end it all. But she would not let them.
"You're five minutes late. I'm only letting this pass by me once because It's your first time, but It shouldn't happen again." Ravenna said arrogantly as her eyes followed Arisa who began filling their plates with food before passing it around.
Before she could reply, Stephan raised his head again to look at her, this time his gaze lingered. "I knew I hadn't seen that face before. When did she arrive?"
"Just today dear." Arisa noticed how Ravenna's voice softened as she replied him.
Stephan glanced at her briefly as she served him next, and when she turned to him, their eyes locked briefly before she glanced down and bowed, moving away to serve Ares who had been sitting there so quietly with a dead pan expression on his face, he hadn't been noticed.
As she approached him, having seen Stephan now, she clearly concluded that Ares was the complete carbon copy of Stephan, only taking after his mother's blonde hair with the unique silver streaks. Asides that, he was the mini version of Stephan.
There was no doubt he was their child.
Anger stirred up inside her. Those two had actually met each other even before she realized Stephan was her mate.
Who knew If he would have rejected her If Ravenna hadn't probably connived a plan with him into getting her title stripped off her.
As she served them, Ruby approached her with the bowl of fruit salad, and that was when Stephan noticed the girl. His thick brows furrowed as the girls eyes met his and they suddenly widened in shock just as Ravenna's did.
He only cleared his throat and focused on his food however, many thoughts running on his mind. Why did she look so familiar... those eyes... not many people had blue eyes in the pack, but only a handful of people had the exact color of her eyes.
But there was no way a common Omega's daughter like her could be related to them... could she? If so, why hadn't he come to claim his daughter?